Hurricane Irma strengthens to Category 5 as 2nd storm forms behind it

By TARA FOWLER, EMILY SHAPIRO, Sep 5, 2017, 3:58 PM ET, http://abcnews.go.com/Politics...rs/story?id=49626150

Hurricane Irma has strengthened to a Category 5 storm and catastrophic damage is possible in the Florida Keys and southern Florida this weekend, as a second storm has formed behind it.

Irma was packing 185 mph winds and gusts up to 220 mph as of before 2 p.m. ET Tuesday and is expected to continue churning with deadly hurricane-force winds and a dangerous storm surge across a wide swath of the Caribbean this week before moving toward southern Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Jose has formed over the open Atlantic, following closely behind Irma, the NHC said Tuesday. Jose could become a Category 2 hurricane as it brushes the most northeastern Caribbean islands at the end of the week. However, there is no threat to the U.S. or Puerto Rico at this time. The NHC warned that residents in the Leeward Islands, already expected to face Irma, "should monitor the track."

A graphic from the National Hurricane Center shows Tropical Storm Jose forming behind Hurricane Irma, Sept. 5, 2017.

The NHC on Tuesday called Irma the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic basin outside of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico in NHC records.

Hurricane warnings are in effects for islands including the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, where the governor Tuesday called the storm unprecedented as the island braces for Irma to hit this week.

By Sunday around 8 a.m., the hurricane is expected to be near the Florida Keys with winds of 145 mph as a Category 4 hurricane.

PHOTO: An ABC News graphic shows the hurricane Irma forecast path as of Sept. 5, 2017.

As of Tuesday morning, the NHC predicted that the storm will follow a more western track, heading up the west coast of Florida; however, that still could change.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Monday declared a state of emergency for every county to ensure that local governments have enough "time, resources and flexibility to get prepared for this dangerous storm," according to a statement from his office.

Scott said in the statement that Irma is a "life-threatening" storm and Florida "must be prepared."

"In Florida, we always prepare for the worst and hope for the best," Scott said, "and while the exact path of Irma is not absolutely known at this time, we cannot afford to not be prepared."

The University of Miami has canceled classes for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the school announced Tuesday.

Wes and Davina Hardin of Palm Bay are buying plywood and other hurricane supplies in preparation for Hurricane Irma on Sept. 4, 2017, at the Melbourne Lowe's Home Improvement Store on Minton Road, Fla.

n Monroe County, Florida, which includes the Florida Keys, visitors will be under a mandatory evacuation order beginning Wednesday morning, according to the county.

Residents will also face mandatory evacuations beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Monroe County School District is shuttering schools Wednesday, the county added.

The Florida Keys experienced massive flooding from Hurricane Wilma in 2005, which was a Category 3 storm. The last Category 5 storm to make landfall in the Florida Keys was the Labor Day hurricane of 1935. 

“If ever there was a storm to take seriously in the Keys, this is it,” Monroe County Emergency Management Director Martin Senterfitt said in a statement released by the county. “The sooner people leave, the better.”

A spokesperson for the Naval Air Station at Key West said a separate evacuation order has been issued for the base’s 5,500 personnel and their families, effective Tuesday at 8 p.m.

The last time the base was evacuated was in September 2008 for Hurricane Ike.

Broward County, Florida, Mayor Barbara Sharief said Tuesday that Broward County will feel tropical storm-level winds by Friday. The mayor said those who live in an evacuation zone should plan to evacuate, adding that extra shelters will be available. Schools in Broward County will be closed Thursday and Friday.

Category 5 is the strongest hurricane category on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane strength scale. In a Category 5 storm, winds reach more than 157 mph and damage is expected to be catastrophic, with buildings and roofs destroyed.

Thousands of Guyanese will be impacted.

Hurricane Hunters @53rdWRS

The Carnival Cruise Line has diverted four ships carrying more than 13,000 passengers to maintain a "safe distance" from Irma, a spokesperson said.

"The safety of our guests and team members is our first priority," the company said in a statement. "We will continue to make adjustments as necessary."

If they are Indians you would not care one hell about them!!!!!!!

The current NHC storm track puts Irma near the Leeward Islands, including Antigua and Barbuda, on Tuesday.

On the nearby island of Anguilla, which Irma is forecast to move over Wednesday morning, the Department of Disaster Management on Tuesday warned of flash floods and mudslides. Four shelters were scheduled to be opened as of Tuesday afternoon.

The Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are forecast to see deteriorating conditions throughout the day on Wednesday with the worst of the rain and wind arriving Wednesday night.

The storm is expected to pass north of Puerto Rico Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.

In Puerto Rico, a state of emergency has been declared, activating the National Guard as the U.S. territory prepares for a storm Gov. Ricard Rossello called unprecedented.

"This is the time to take action," the governor said Tuesday.

Workers put boats on dry docks in preparation, as Hurricane Irma, barreling towards the Caribbean and the southern United States, was upgraded to a Category 4 storm, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sept. 4, 2017.

Customers walk near empty shelves that are normally filled with bottles of water after Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello declared a state of emergency in preparation for Hurricane Irma, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sept. 4, 2017.

Héctor Pesquera, the superintendent of the Puerto Rico police, said at least 14 hours of wind and rain is expected, calling the storm more dangerous than Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall in Texas Aug. 25 as a Category 4 storm.

Rossello warned that emergency services will stop when winds reach 50 mph.

Shelters are being opened in preparation for the storm, and the governor said all those who have vulnerable homes or flood prone areas need to start evacuation plans and head to shelters.

The governor has canceled classes for Tuesday and declared a half-day of work.

ABC News' Ginger Zee, Gio Benitez, Max Golembo, Dan Peck, Erin Dooley and Josh Hoyos contributed to this report.

Oh shit, the Beers not gone????

Nehru posted:

If they are Indians you would not care one hell about them!!!!!!!

Aside from those in Antigua many are them are Indians.  PPP supporters who fled Jagdeo, some of them tossed out of Barbados, and despite this refusing to return to PPP run Guyana.